Kiddipedia
Boys are the men of our future, and we need them to be leaders, truthful and strong- not “poor me”. As women, we respect men who are caring and empathetic, even in touch with their feminine side, men who communicate rather than keeping it all in and men who can think outside of the box and are in touch with their intuition and right brain creativity.
As a mother of 2 girls, I can only compare the behaviour that I see and experience when working with children but it was my certificate course in colour psychology that made sense of what boys and girls need in their lives to help them grow into the kinds of leaders, and we need in the future.
Colour psychology is a soft science used for millennia across cultures. Colour psychology is used to design corporate logos and imbued certain feelings in product branding. The interior design of your home is full of colour which can be moved around or painted onto your walls. You and your children also wear colour. There are healing properties to colour, for instance, have you ever noticed that you might gravitate towards blacks and greys over the weekend? They feel protective, somehow calming, like a grey and rainy day.
So, why is blue best for boys? Let’s understand blue and colour psychology a touch more first. Every colour has a positive and negative side to it and, every colour is affected by the addition of the neutrals: black, grey and white. Positive blue relates to the throat chakra- communication; it is also the colour for feminine energy, peace and intuition and listening to our dreams. Blue resonates with diplomacy, willpower and leadership, uniformity and authority – the reason why blue represents the police and judicial system.
The negative side of blue is the opposite of the above: problems communicating, standing up for oneself and holding everything in with a “poor me” attitude while everything is a drama, enhanced by insecurity and the need for lots of support. A child’s dislike of blue can relate to their feeling that their mother’s too hard to please, isn’t listening or nurturing enough; that they can’t communicate with her, creating shy retiring types or, outright revolt.
Today much of the above is symbolised by blue jeans relating to freedom and leisure time and as a symbol of revolt against authority supported by black which relates to a feeling of being in control, protected and dealing from only what you know, not what you see, which hinders teenage growth. You see, much of what we wear, say and do, we never fully understand, but historically, the invention of blue jeans made a statement, and black is the colour we have always worn to funerals as a sign of withheld angst and protection from it.
Blue is best for boys as its positive attributes help them become the men we need and desire for our future.
So, how do you introduce blue to your son? Colour is absorbed. The quickest changes are made by wearing blue underwear, sleeping in blue pyjamas and wearing blue clothing. Light blues and greyed or muted blues are best. Try to avoid navy due to its addition of black. Blue worn in the top part of the body, nearest the throat is best for communication and will make the most change especially if they have to speak in front of the class!
In your home décor, add touches of blue here and there for balance. Did you know that grey helps soothe nerves and “creates the space” for bringing about change, or, if you like, it helps people to calm and adjust and move on. Add white to your blue for an ice blue, grey for an elegant Wedgewood blue and black for a navy. Be aware that the addition of red or green to blue changes the hue and creates another colour entirely. In your boy’s room, or throughout if you want, apply blue wallpaper or feature walls for more significant impact. Haymes paints have a divine blue texture in their Artisan range (see feature picture), that is ideal for boys rooms. You can also get creative with a roller and paint horizontal, vertical or diagonal stripes in shades of blue by buying one hue of blue, dividing it into 3 and adding white to one, grey to the next and a touch of black to the third for the very least amount of colour on the wall. Low ceilings, paint vertical stripes, high ceilings, paint horizontal and more restful stripes and, to be funky and out there, go diagonal or a bit of everything!
Add artwork about your child’s favourite parttime in your décor colours, and you’ll have the ideal boy’s room décor. Personalised portraits that encourage their ambitions through visualisation is even more powerful or, get them to paint their artwork at art class or in a Private Kids Art Workshop (Brisbane only)
Now, about accent colours. Our decors are often full of colour, and if blue is new, you may wish to bring your other interior décor colours into his room.
- Orange is complementary to blue and ideal for getting them to connect with their creativity and gut instinct. Orange relates to bliss and engages the appetite and is an excellent choice for children with autism
- Green is the most powerful colour on the planet and exemplifies a connection with and love of humanity, earth and nature. It is also the colour for the giving of one’s time and money plus; it’s incredibly restful. In decorating, green, and yellow too, create the illusion of more space, so if you have a small room, add green!
- Red is loved by most people in business and is the colour for action, decision making and getting things done. It’s the masculine colour. Red in the negative however is to be used with care, for instance, if a child has had a bad father experience, is dealing with frustration and anger issues, then red, and black, aren’t going to help him but rather feed this issues.
- White is like a blank page where anything is possible, and it’s the reason why post-recession interiors have intently gone white. White is calm and peaceful, but too much will feel cold. White is the ideal backdrop for much colour to achieve a more uplifting and happy environment
So, here’s a guide for two different personality or behavioural types in boys:
- If your boys are unruly, use blue mixed with grey to calm them. Avoid red; add accents of orange or green
- If your child’s withdrawn, use blue mixed with white for an ice blue to calm, help clarity and communication. Avoid black. Add brighter blues and for accents, red for energy and action, unless a father figure has abused them.
Blue is the best colour for boys, and even if your child is well balanced, blue supported by the other colours will ensure a well rounded and happy child. Just know that whenever they start wearing too much black or want a room full of black, that they are withdrawing, perhaps making dramas out of things and seeking protection and that this is when you need to nurture, wear blue and give your boy heaps of love like we as mothers all like to do. Look out for my next story on girls, and why Yellow is the new Pink! For more on art and decorating and stories on how I’ve helped other people in all sorts of scenarios visit and feel free to join my e-newsletter here or download my free e-book on home decorating at www.tailoredartworks.com.au
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